Chad Morris hasn’t coached Michael Brewer in five years, but an enduring bond with his former quarterback and a professional reverence for Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer led Morris to steer Brewer toward Blacksburg.

Morris is entering his fourth season at Clemson, where as offensive coordinator he has guided the Tigers to record production. He broke into the college ranks as Tulsa’s OC in 2010 after a wildly successful 16-year, head-coaching run at five Texas high schools.

In two years at Lake Travis High near Austin, 2008 and ’09, Morris coached Brewer and the Cavaliers to consecutive 16-0, state-championship seasons. Brewer was a starting receiver and backup quarterback in 2008 as a sophomore – senior Garrett Gilbert was the No. 1 quarterback – before succeeding Gilbert in ’09 and, according to the Austin American-Statesman, passing for 4,450 yards and 43 touchdowns.

After Clemson’s practice Thursday night, I spoke to Morris, who raved about Brewer’s instincts, football IQ and bloodlines. He described how Brewer and his family, unhappy with Brewer’s situation after three years and the Tommy Tuberville-to-Kliff Kingsbury coaching transition at Texas Tech, approached him for advice and why he recommended Virginia Tech, where Brewer transferred this spring and is expected to emerge as the starter.

“He thought enough of me, and his family did, to give me a call,” Morris said. “I obviously started thinking: What are the right fits? Who needs a quarterback? Obviously, that comes into account. I thought of us first. But we didn’t need one. We didn’t have a spot. If we’d had a spot, he’d be at Clemson.”

Morris bumped into Hokies running backs coach Shane Beamer at the Senior Bowl in January and casually mentioned Brewer.

“Playing for Frank Beamer, and I shared this with (Michael), he is a legend in college football,” Morris said. “They were kind of quarterback deficient. They didn’t have as many quarterbacks, they’re losing a good guy (Logan Thomas) in the fourth round (of the NFL draft), and, couple that with the opportunity to play for a legend like Coach Beamer, wow. What a role model.

“So I called Shane (after the Senior Bowl) and said, ‘Shane this may sound weird, may sound strange. I know we’re opponents, in the same conference and everything, but look, I’ve got a guy that I would put my name on. Y’all don’t know me very well, but I’m just tellin’ you that if y’all are looking for a quarterback, this is a guy that would be, if we had a spot, he’d be at Clemson.’”

Morris next spoke, at length, with Virginia Tech offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler and offered a similar message:

“He’s a competitor and he’s won at the highest level of Texas high school football. Not only is he a winner, his family’s a winner. … Playing quarterback, it is deep in his bloodlines, from both his momma’s side and daddy’s side. That’s who he is, and if y’all have an interest in him, I can help you.”

The Hokies’ offense bears little resemblance to the spread Morris employed at Lake Travis and carried to Tulsa and Clemson. But scheme, Morris said, “had zero to do with (his advice to Brewer), absolutely zero to do with it. It had all to do with getting him in the right situation where he was happy and he had an opportunity to compete. …

“Hey, there’s not too many times in someone’s life where you get a chance to start over, and he has that chance, and I think he knows how to make the best of it, regardless of the offense. He’s got a chance to get in and play for one of the premier programs in the country. Hey, why not?”

Brewer’s quarterback heritage is, indeed, impressive. His grandfather Charley Brewer quarterbacked the University of Texas in the mid-1950s. His father, Robert, quarterbacked the Longhorns in 1981 and ’82 and was MVP of their January 1982 victory over No. 3 Alabama, leading two fourth-quarter touchdown drives, one of which he capped with a 30-yard run.

Rob Moerschell succeeded Robert Brewer as Texas’ quarterback in 1983 and his sister Laura later married Robert Brewer, making Moerschell Michael’s uncle.

Then-Texas coach Mack Brown recruited Michael Brewer but wanted him to grayshirt, delaying his college career by a year. The 6-foot, 200-pound Brewer signed instead with Texas Tech, where he played sparingly in 13 games, passing for 440 yards and five touchdowns with no interceptions.

“He just finds a way to win,” Morris said. “He’s not the biggest, he’s not the fastest. … he’s just got ‘it.’ … That’s what’s made him so special. He’s a great teammate. He’s one of those guys. He’s a pick-up drivin’, fishin’, huntin’ guy. That’s who he is and that’s what he does. He enjoys fishin’, huntin’ and football. He wears his cowboy boots and cowboy hat. That’s what he does. He’s just a rugged kid from Texas.”

Morris arrived at Lake Travis in the spring of 2008, when Brewer was a freshman. Texas allows spring football practice, and with Gilbert, a sixth-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams this year out of SMU, then injured, Brewer took every first-team snap during drills.

“He was thrust into the position,” Morris said. “He’s going to do what it takes. Doesn’t matter if you’re running the wishbone, or slotbone, or if you’re running the power I, this kid’s going to be successful.”

Morris departed for Tulsa after the 2009 season, but Lake Travis won another state title, its fourth straight, in 2010, Brewer’s senior year. An injury limited his playing time, and he threw for “only” 2,865 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Morris recalled the 2009 championship game, which Lake Travis won 24-17 over Longview for its 46th consecutive victory. Playing before more than 30,000 spectators at Baylor, Brewer threw a 57-yard touchdown pass on the game’s second play and completed a clutch, fourth-down pass that allowed the Cavaliers to run out the fourth-quarter clock.

“The more pressure this kid has on him,” Morris said, “the more he performs.”

I asked Morris if, since Clemson and Virginia Tech do not play this season, he will be more inclined to text and call Brewer. Morris quickly reminded me that the Tigers and Hokies could clash in the ACC championship game.

“That,” he said, “would be a pretty special time.”

I can be reached at 247-4636 or by email at dteel@dailypress.com. Follow me at twitter.com/DavidTeelatDP